MLK Day of Service

Alvernia students turn a “day off” into a “day on” in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

At least 250 Alvernia students, faculty and staff will be volunteering at more than two dozen sites across the Greater Reading community as part of its annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 21. In addition, students at the university's Schuylkill Center will be performing service in Schuylkill County.

This year’s MLK Day of Service participants include scores of student volunteers and a variety of faculty and staff. They will visit many different sites across the county, including Berks Encore, the Pagoda, Berks Parks Department, and several Olivet's sites. Follow #gotserviceAU on Twitter to see their work on January 21.

Alvernia will not be alone in their efforts on the 21st. The Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday is a considered a national day of service, and a time to re-commit to serving each other and our communities. On MLK Day, Americans across the country will honor Dr. King by helping their neighbors and communities. Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the MLK Day of Service will include thousands of projects spread across all 50 states.

Deeply rooted in service and service-learning, Alvernia's values projects like the MLK Day of Service — which help pair college students with non-profit organizations in the community. These projects create connections for important organizations, and a framework for students to become engaged citizens, long after graduation.

In this time of economic challenge for the nation and our local community, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's vision of service and volunteering to increase opportunity for all Americans is more critical than ever. Though Alvernia challenges students to perform three major "Days of Service" throughout the year, daily service never really stops at the university. The South Reading Youth Initiative, Alvernia READS, and other programs continue to help the community year-round. Visit the Holleran Center for Community Engagement to learn more.

Continuing the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, a special lecture — led by Dr. Arthur Romano — will take place on Jan. 22, 5 p.m. in the Bernardine Lecture Hall, followed by an American Southern dinner in the Dining Hall. Romano is an international peace-worker who honors the legacy and struggle of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by bringing his teachings to life and demonstrating how King’s message is inspiring a new generation of peace-builders around the world today.